[1] He was a goodlie personage, and princelie to be|hold,Description of Edward the fourth. of heart couragious, politike in counsell, in ad|uersitie nothing abashed, in prosperitie rather ioifull than proud, in peace iust and mercifull, in warre sharpe and fierce, in the field bold and hardie, and na|theles no further (than wisdome would) aduenturous, whose warres who so well considered, he shall no lesse commend his wisedome where he voided, than his manhood where he vanquished. He was of visage louelie, of bodie mightie, strong, and cleane made: howbeit, in his latter daies with ouer liberall diet somewhat corpulent and boorelie, and nathelesse not vncomelie. He was of youth greatlie giuen to flesh|lie wantonnesse: from which health of bodie, in great prosperitie and fortune, without a speciall grace hard|lie refraineth, the poet implieng no lesse and saieng:

Mens erit apta capi tunc cùm laetissima rerum,

Vt seges in pingui luxuriabit humo.